Commodores calmly execute game plan in 48-6 victory
Dave Rafferty
Frazier wide receiver Nick Smalich is off to the races as he scrambles for a touchdown in the first quarter of Friday’s game against West Greene in Perryopolis.
Dave Rafferty
West Greene’s Dalton Wildman carries the ball for a short gain against as Frazier defensive lineman Joseph Horvath closes in during Friday’s game in Perryopolis.
Dave Rafferty
West Greene’s Dalton Wildman takes off for a huge gain against Frazier early in Friday’s game in Perryopolis.
PERRYOPOLIS — The Frazier Commodores calmly executed their game plan Friday night, resulting in several big plays to take a 48-6 win over visiting West Greene in a Tri-County South Conference match-up.
The Commodores (3-1,3-1) rushed for 278 yards with running back Nick Smalich leading the ground game with 164 yards on only four carries. One of those carries resulted in a 95-yard touchdown run.
“Nick has been a real pleasant surprise this season and has made some great runs,” Frazier’s Mike Steeber said. “It’s really nice to see him thriving in the backfield. I was also happy to see some of our younger guys get some touches and make some plays.”
One of those guys was Alvin Ross, who came off the bench and scored on touchdown runs of 12 and 62 yards.
The Commodores wasted little time getting on the board. After taking the opening kickoff at their 47, they needed only four plays to get to the end zone on a 17-yard touchdown pass from Charlie Manack to Michael Luce.
West Greene (1-3,1-3) took the next kickoff at its 21 and drove to the Frazier 25, where a pass from Owen Main to Ben Carlisle was intercepted by Dakota Hixson at the Commodores’ 5-yard line. Smalich needed one play to take it the distance. The two-point conversion was good giving the Commodores a 14-0 lead.
Frazier added another score in the first quarter when Manack connected with Hixson on a 51-yard scoring pass making the score 20-0.
Frazier added three more scores in the second. The first coming on Smalich’s second touchdown run of the night, this one covering 49 yards. Following another interception, Manack found Luce for a 24-yard touchdown pass.
Later in the quarter, Frazier fumbled and West Greene recovered at the Commodores’ 35.
“We’ve lost eight starters since the first game. We’re just trying to put things together. I’m proud of the way my kids battled despite the score,” West Greene’s Ray Kreuzer said. “We moved the ball at times and had some mistakes. Dalton Wildman gave us a great game tonight. He’s a very accomplished senior. He gained over 100 yards tonight. It was a great effort.”
Wildman finished the night with 143 yards on 16 carries and scored the Pioneers’ only touchdown.
The Pioneers took the Frazier fumble and drove to the Commodores’ 14. Main’s pass was picked off in the end zone by Ethan Weiser, who returned it 102 yards, score giving the Commodores a 40-0 lead at the half.
“We executed well tonight. That was our goal to continue to clean up our game each week,” Steeber said. “It was nice to see a defensive score. Weiser made a big play for us. We’ve just got to stay focused at take it one week at a time.”